Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Do You Remember Love ’84 Summer: “Walking Doll Lynn Minmei” model from IMAI.

If there’s one type of merch I love it’s prop replicas, or “in universe” feeling items. Like a Cappuccino Cup from The Bronze (Buffy The Vampire Slayer) or A Fangtasia shirt from True Blood, these types of items are always my go-to first choice for merch. Subtle enough to pass, but not so obvious as nerd merch.

So as a huge fan of the Macross universe since being exposed to the first Macross series (in the form of Robotech as a gateway drug back in the day) you can imagine how stoked I was when I saw this gem sitting in a pile behind the counter of the vintage anime shop I was perusing.

Minmay Wins the Miss Macross. I win at Nakano Broadway.

Figurines are one thing but this looked to me like a model replica of the singing Lynn Mimmay doll that confused and fascinated the Zentradi. Pretend in-universe merchandise. SOLD!

The model kit is put out by IMAI, who also released more famous model kits from Orguss, Genesis Climber Mospeada, The Macross saga and more. According to the side they also released a Roy Focker, Misa Hayase, Hikaru Ichijyo along with Lynn Minmay all standing in front of a microphone for some reason. Roy did. Miss Macross beauty pageant winner Minmei certainly did. Hikaru and Misa though? Let me know what were they doing with a microphone. Wrong answers only!

Flash Back 2012, or ’84 at Least.

Inside the box we’ve got things kept in pretty immaculate shape for an unused model kit that just turned 40 this year.

According to the instructions this kit is only 10 pieces!

Leg
Leg
Left Hand with Mic
Right hand in a fist to pump up the citizens of Macross City
Face
Back of Head
Braided hair
Another braided hair
Kimono front
Kimono Back

There’s also some water slide decals and a pink wind up mechanism to make her walk. The decals have two choices for how much glint is in her eye and some detail for her kimono.

Instruction Idol

The instructions to put her together are exactly 3 steps. Legs go to wind up mechanism. Kimono clamps around hands, braids and legs. Head clamps around Kimono and its done.

Except it’s not done because this was 1984 and you’re not getting any fancy Bandai properly coloured Gunplay in 1984. This this is 100% red so you’re left to paint it and hope not to make Zentradi sized disaster.

Look into her soulful eyes as Minmay sings straight into your space war torn soul. It’s not going to do any good, but its worth a shot.

Lastly this colour cardboard insert is stapled to the inside of the box along with a bag containing the aforementioned wind-up mechanism.

What would Cousin Lynn do?

Part of me really wants to take an evening, paint it up and put it on display in front of the box but when something has gone 40 years in this kind of condition, it’s really hard to not just keep it intact for posterity’s sake. Maybe someday I’ll find another one in a rattier box of something. Until then I’ll probably just throw bottles at it’s feet in frustration.

Note: I intentionally flipped between “Minmay and Minmei” spellings so you could see your favourite represented at least half the time. You’re welcome my little white dragon! -D

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